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Topic: Aluminum Bass Lap Steel |
W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2018 1:53 pm |
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This is a bass lap steel guitar. I call it 'Chaos-8'. Length of guitar is 19", scale is 15". String gauges go from .170" to .060". It is tuned diatonic C, from low low C to low C. A few new innovations: The nut is designed in such a way, to both retain the strings and act as nut. Strings have a 10 degrees downward bend inside the nut, putting stress of the strings off the bolts a bit and onto the nut itself. The bridge does the same thing, the pull tuning mechanism does not require a separate bridge. The pickup moves forward/backward 2 3/4" travel, going from bright sound to mellow sound with never having to change the tone pot setting. The pickup moves very easily and can be done on the fly while playing. I wound the 8 string pickup with 2 full ounces of 43 gauge wire, spacing is .375". It is designed to play open string, however, a tone bar can be used if desired. Build upon special request of one of my customers, something small enough to travel with.
Wayne
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I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 26 Aug 2018 3:16 am
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Alright Wayne, you know the rules, we gotta hear some audio...
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Chris Templeton
From:
The Green Mountain State
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 26 Aug 2018 3:51 pm
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 26 Aug 2018 5:39 pm
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| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
| Alright Wayne, you know the rules, we gotta hear some audio... |
i will try and record something. My handheld recorder is usually what I use, and works fine for regular guitar, but not so good for bass, for some reason. But I'll figure something out.
I have to send it off to the new owner tomorrow, so if I do a recording it has to be tomorrow morning.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 27 Aug 2018 3:26 am
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Very cool.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2018 7:44 am
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| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
| Alright Wayne, you know the rules, we gotta hear some audio... |
This instrument will be used for sound sampling. Sounds are generated by plucking, or scratching, the strings. The sounds generated are fed into a computer, and unusual music is created. The musician who will be using this instrument tells me that he will be traveling and wanted something small enough to fit into his suitcase. Although it is a lap steel of sorts, it will not be used as such, not in the way normally used. It was created for a very specific purpose.
That's about the best I can explain it.
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2018 8:32 am Re: Aluminum Bass Lap Steel
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| W. Johnson wrote: |
This is a bass lap steel guitar.
.... It is designed to play open string, however, a tone bar can be used if desired. Build upon special request of one of my customers, something small enough to travel with.
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Looks pretty cool!
"It is designed to play open string"
technically isn't that a type of zither? |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2018 1:39 pm Re: Aluminum Bass Lap Steel
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I would definitely call it a Zither: Shallow Box with Plucked Strings in a Diatonic Tuning is a pretty much general definition of ´zither´.
And yes, it does look quite cool and the workmanship looks top-notch! Something like that would be a nice addition to my Zither Collection. 
| David M Brown wrote: |
| W. Johnson wrote: |
This is a bass lap steel guitar.
.... It is designed to play open string, however, a tone bar can be used if desired. Build upon special request of one of my customers, something small enough to travel with.
|
Looks pretty cool!
"It is designed to play open string"
technically isn't that a type of zither? |
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2018 3:58 pm Re: Aluminum Bass Lap Steel
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| David M Brown wrote: |
| W. Johnson wrote: |
This is a bass lap steel guitar.
.... It is designed to play open string, however, a tone bar can be used if desired. Build upon special request of one of my customers, something small enough to travel with.
|
Looks pretty cool!
"It is designed to play open string"
technically isn't that a type of zither? |
Yeah, probably could be called a Zither. However, I am sending along a stainless steel tone bar I made to use with this. So, sometimes it will be a lap steel, I guess, sometimes a zither. Maybe it could be called a 'Lither' ?
Wayne
_________________
I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 28 Aug 2018 6:36 am Re: Aluminum Bass Lap Steel
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| W. Johnson wrote: |
| David M Brown wrote: |
| W. Johnson wrote: |
This is a bass lap steel guitar.
.... It is designed to play open string, however, a tone bar can be used if desired. Build upon special request of one of my customers, something small enough to travel with.
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Looks pretty cool!
"It is designed to play open string"
technically isn't that a type of zither? |
Yeah, probably could be called a Zither. However, I am sending along a stainless steel tone bar I made to use with this. So, sometimes it will be a lap steel, I guess, sometimes a zither. Maybe it could be called a 'Lither' ?
Wayne |
Well, if it has a tone bar, it's a steel. |
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W. Johnson
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2018 5:49 pm
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| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
| Alright Wayne, you know the rules, we gotta hear some audio... |
Here is a link to a Youtube slide show of this guitar, with a sound track of this guitar. It is 1 minute and 37 seconds long. Not much but gives an idea what it sounds like.
https://youtu.be/gVnIlw7RtyI
Wayne
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I am on Facebook as Innovative Guitars. Photos of all my work in photo album. I no longer make lap steels, but still make tone bars. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 30 Aug 2018 4:37 pm
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You should post the info and pictures on talkbass.com. half the guys over there will flip out over it - the other half will probably want to put a contract out on you... 
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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